JULIEN PUTS TROUSERS IN THE AIR

JULIEN MACDONALD is to put British Airways air stewardesses in trousers for the first time in 30 years. The Welsh designer, who will present his fourth couture collection for Givenchy in Paris next week, unveiled his new uniform for the 20,000 uniformed BA staff yesterday and his proposed new look seemed to go down well. "It looks very sexy," said one employee. "A great improvement on the current one. I'm looking forward to wearing it." The designs, which will still feature the traditional red, silver and blue BA colours, will be the company's first new uniform for ten years. Women will now have the choice of wearing either a skirt or trousers and will be issued with a matching handbag for the first time, while men will have smart pinstripe suits. Female staff on Concorde, meanwhile, will wear old-style peaked caps to reflect the pioneering days of aviation. "It's time for a fresh look," said BA design spokesman Michael Crump. If a trial run, in which the new outfits will be worn by over 100 staff, is successful, the entire staff will be wearing the new look by next year. (January 17 2003, AM)